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How test works The Stanford test uses a technique called reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, or RT-PCR, to rapidly identify the presence of viral
by sebastianconcpt 7y ago
How test works
The Stanford test uses a technique called reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, or RT-PCR, to rapidly identify the presence of viral RNA in swabs from the noses of potentially infected people. RT-PCR uses short stretches of DNA called primers that bind tightly and specifically only to matching sequences in SARS-CoV-2 RNA. An enzyme called reverse transcriptase then converts the viral RNA into complementary DNA, and as the reaction continues, an enzyme called polymerase is used to generate billions of DNA copies that can be detected by fluorescently tagged molecules called probes.
- LatteLazy 7y agoThanks!
- semi-extrinsic 7y agoWhat I don't get from this description is hos they get the virus to release the RNA? I thought virii only release their RNA after entering a cell? Is there some sort of artifical cell wall involved?
- hobofan 7y agoYou can just destroy the virus, e.g. by grinding it down or via a certain chemical and then you have a resulting crude mixture of RNA + other virus parts. In the past you had to separate the RNA first, but with newer methods you can do the PCR directly on the crude mixture.